Fatima Ibrahim is a devastated mother who is currently nursing the injury inflicted on her by the death of her last child who was recently killed in the rubbles of their building.
The 30-year old mother of six recounted her sad experience while speaking to Punch correspondent on the demise of the child, Muhammadu Ibrahim who was unlucky to escape the roaring death that came knocking on their door some few weeks back.
Narrating the shocking experience, Fatima said the rain that caused the disaster started around 5am and became more intense around 7am. Then, it continued non-stop.
Suddenly, the wall in their kitchen area collapsed on her three children. Two of them, Hussaina and Hajara sustained serious injuries but Ibrahim who was three years old died instantly.
She noted that the three of them were buried in the rubbles when it happened. They were pulled out and by the time they got to the hospital, the doctor confirmed the last born dead on arrival.
According to her, there was flood in their room as a result of the heavy downpour. She was then trying to dispose the flood with bucket.
Initially, the children didn’t come to join her in the activity despite trying to bring them in. But later, they came and assisted her to empty the flood in their room. She said the wall fell on them while carrying the water to the kitchen area.
She said Hajara hit her head on the pot and the pot was totally damaged while Hussaina had broken neck and other injuries around her neck.
They were initially rushed to the general hospital where the last one was confirmed dead. The doctor treated Hajara and later referred Hussaina to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe due to the severity of her case.
Asked if there was a crack on their wall before then or noticed any visible signs that the house would soon crumble, the bereaved mother said no.
She explained that the clay house had been built for almost 20 years and they had never seen any trace of collapsing until the sad incident occurred.
Although she noted that they tried to rebuild it with blocks and cement but they were always handicapped by fund.
On that fateful morning, her husband left home very early to pray in the mosques but only for him to be called from the hospital that his child has died.
She explained that it was a devastating scenario for them to bear.
Fatima Ibrahim spoke to Sunday Punch.
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